Thanks, I did research all those links before, but many are broken and I couldn't find anything very conclusive, what I have found maybe from those links or somewhere else does seem to link him to right wing Indian politics. If there are other members of the SES reading this site I do hope they look into this for themselves, so they are aware of what the Holy man that guides the SES is involved in. I have provided some information below. If there is question over who Mr Lambie and his colleagues were due to meet last year, I need to find that out for certain.

I wonder if the Pincham daughters trip was some years ago StVSurvivor? There was talk about problems meeting Shri Vasudevananda but that was years ago - maybe up to 5 years ago.

I have written to Jeremy Sinclair, a Trustee of the Joyti Trust (that members of the SES are asked to donate to), to ask for details of how the money from the Trust has been spent as the Charity Commission does not hold that information.

S M A Kazmi Posted: Apr 10, 2005 at 0000 hrs ISTDehra Dun FIRST murder, and now mayhem. After the messy legal battle involving Kanchi Shankar-acharya, Jayendra Saras-wati, another of Hinduism’s most revered math faces trouble. The five-decade-old battle for control over the Badrinath Peeth has just spiralled into criminal charges. The latest volley comes from Swami Vasudevanand, who claims to be the Shan-karacharya of the Peeth. On March 29, he lodged an FIR at Chamoli, accusing Dwarka Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand—another claimant to the Jyotirmath Peeth top job—of stealing valuables from the math’s Purnadevi temple. While the battle between Vasudevanand and Swaroopanand dates back to 1953, Madhavashram, a local, staked his claim to the Adi Shankaracharya-established Peeth a few years ago. To complicate matters, each of the three is supported by a separate political party. Pro-Congress Swami Swaroopanand famously blessed Sonia Gandhi during the Prayag Kumbh in 2001. Swami Vasudevanand is said to be close to the saffron brigade, including the BJP. Swami Madhavashram is backed by the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, a regional party. THOUGH the triangular tussle has been simmering for a while, matters came to a head on February 16, when the Congress state government declared a ‘‘lock-out’ at Jyotirmath, in an apparent bid to oust Swami Vasudevanand, de facto math in-charge. Even as rival claimants mobilised public support, a court reprieve and a BJP-led agitation saw Swami Vasudevanand reinstated on March 1. Barely a month later, Swami Vasudevanand filed the theft FIR, and went public with his charges against the Congress. ‘‘The state government wants to hand over the Peeth to Swaroopanand in an arbitrary manner,’’ he said, while former BJP state president Manohar Kant Dhayani looked on. According to Kushlanand Sati of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, a close associate of the Jyotirmath Peeth, Swami Swaroopanand of Dwarka was anointed Shankaracharya of the math in 1973—two decades after Swami Brahmanand Shankaracharya died without nominating a successor—as he was the late pontiff’s senior-most disciple. However, Swami Vasudevanand, who had acquired control of the Peeth in the interim, refused to hand over the reins. Swaroopanand’s critics also said he could not possibly head two Peeths. The matter went from the local court in Chamoli to the Supreme Court, even as Swami Swaroopanand built his own math near the Peeth. But the leading figures in the current dispute are clear that matters material do not interest them. ‘‘It is not property or wealth, but the prestige of heading Badrinath Peeth, which has guided the Hindu religion through centuries that is at stake,’’ Swami Vasudevanand said. It might seem ironical, then, that he should accuse Swami Swaroopanand of robbing a Peeth temple. But as the unfolding drama has proved time and again, logic and reason count for less than power and pelf. And so it is that Swami Madhavashram also claims to the real Shankaracharya of Badrinath, and has built his own abode near the Peeth. To bolster his claim, he flaunts a letter from the Kashi Vidut Parishad, a body of Hindu scholars, which states that a particular Peeth can have only one Shankaracharya. ‘‘Since I am not involved in any property disputes, I am the real Shankaracharya of the Peeth,’’ Swami Madhavashram insists. If only it were so simple

?If there were no Vanvasis, Rama would not have become Lord Rama and remained merely King Rama. It is a good sign for the future of the country that with the efforts of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Vanvasis are aware and united and are determined to save their culture and identity. History is witness to Vanvasis always working towards enhancing glory of Mother India. Apart from blessing all of you, I congratulate the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for untiting the whole Hindu society by creating organisations like Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram,? said Shankracharya of Jyotishmath, Swami Vasudevananda Saraswati. He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of Kalyan Ashram?s five-day national convention in Delhi on October 10. He said all people were children of Bharatmata and it was the political leaders who divided the people into Vanvasis, gramvasis or nagarvasis for their political gain.

Shri Jagdevram Oraon, president of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram said that Vanvasis had been fighting for the protection of their identity in every phase of history since ancient times. ?They never compromised on their self-respect. The news that Vanvasis are adopting Christianity is baseless. Initially, there were some incidents of conversion, but now even those who had converted are coming back to their original roots,? he said. The function was presided over by Shri Bhuvan Mohan, secretary Banarasi Das Sewa Smarak Trust. Shri Moren Singh Purti, Roop Singh Bhil, Dr Prasnna Sapre and Shri Satyanarayan Bansal also shared the dais.

Talking to Organiser, S.D. Lepcha of Sikkim said that the increase in Muslim population was posing a new danger to the peace-loving people of Sikkim. Smt. Binita Jigduing, who belongs to Dimasa community of Nagaland, said that the VKA helped to arouse nationalist feelings among the Nagas and their new generation was getting quality education in Kalyan Ashram schools. ?Kalyan Ashram has shown us light. It has made us capable to fight against not only the onslaughts on our culture and identity but also improved our economic status. It has brought all the 17 Vanvasi communities of the state on to one platform,? said Hingchube Zeliang of Nagaland, where Kalyan Ashram is working in seven of the 11 districts. ?We have won the confidence of the people, including Christians. Whenever there is any problem, local people stand by us. We help and encourage local organisations. There are a number of Christians who want to save their Naga culture now,? said Shri Jagdamba Mall, who has been working in Nagaland for about two decades.

Shri Rijoy Singh Khangshah, who belongs to Seng Khasi organisation in Meghalaya, wants immediate attention of the Central Government to be given to the new conversion danger posed by the Muslims. He said about one lakh Bangladeshi infiltrators, who had entered the state as labourers, were marrying the local girls and converting them into Islam.

Ratan Kherkatarya, who belongs to Boro Janjati of Barpeta district in Assam, said that conversion had stopped but the threat to their culture and identity continued unabated due to Bangladeshi infiltration. ?After 25 years of working, Vanvasis in Tripura today feel that it is their own organisation,? admitted Shri Mangalpad of Tripura. There are 45 tribal communities in 14 districts of Kerala and Kalyan Ashram works with 18 and is in contact with 23 other communities. They are facing three major problems?conversion, alcoholism and education.

With assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh in focus, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has decided to intensify Ram Temple movement once again to help the saffron brigade. An indication to this effect came when VHP supremo Ashok Singhal showered praise at former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh for the stand he had taken during the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya in 1992. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Singal announced that a two-day meeting of saints of the Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal (Central Advisory Committee) would be held from tomorrow in which important decisions regarding Sri Ram Janambhoomi would be taken. The meeting of the high-powered Committee of Sri Ram Janambhoomi will be chaired by Jyotishpeethadhishwar Jagadguru Sankaracharya Swami Vasudevananda Saraswati. The meeting would also discuss issues such as the row over ‘Vande Mataram’, terrorism, NCERT text books and conversions. Though Mr Singhal vehemently denied the intentions of the VHP to rally behind the BJP, there seems to be a clandestine attempt by the Sangh Parivar outfit to whip Hindu sentiments ahead of the crucial assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh. Commenting on the decision of BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Kalyan Singh’s decision to launch saffron party’s campaign for the coming polls from Ayodhya, Mr Singhal heaped praised on him for the full support he had extended to kar sevaks when he was State Chief Minister. “At least, he never said that day (December 6, 1992) was the saddest day of his life. Instead, he had told us that there would be no hurdles from his side,” the VHP leader said. The VHP had been, in the past, raising the Ayodhya issue ahead of elections and this time round there is a desperation in the Sangh Parivar outfit because if the BJP fades out from the Hindi heartland, it can spell doom for it too. The VHP has also proposed to organise the world Hindu Conference-III on the occasion of the next Ardha Kumbha at Prayagraj on February 11 to 13, 2007, around the time when elections in UP are likely.

No written guarantee for peace: VHP Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi | October 15, 2003 20:01 IST

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Tuesday refused to give a written guarantee to the Union government that its October 17 sankalp (resolve) rally in Ayodhya will be peaceful. Thousands of Ram bhakts, as the VHP calls them, have been gathering in the twin towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad this week to resolve to build a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

Also see: Paramilitary forces surround Karsevakpuram Several thousand VHP activists have been detained in various parts of Uttar Pradesh, where Mulayam Singh Yadav's government sees a sinister design in the VHP rally to disturb the temple town's peace. VHP spokesman Vireshwar Dwivedi told reporters in New Delhi: "Union Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmayanand spoke to VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia on Tuesday and perhaps asked for a written undertaking that the Ram bhakts will remain peaceful. "When Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani have not been able to give a written undertaking that they will bring about peace in Jammu and Kashmir, how can a social organisation like the VHP give such a guarantee concerning our programme in Ayodhya?" Also see: Avoid confrontation, Advani tells Mulayam Dwivedi warned that if Ram bhakts were harassed, they will respond in an appropriate way.

Asked what if this entailed violence, Diwedi said it would be 'even-handed.'

"We are not satisfied with the central government's arrangements in Ayodhya. About 1. 75 lakh Ram bhakts have been kept in inhuman conditions...they must be treated in a dignified way," he said.

Dwivedi said around 45,000 Ram bhakts led by Swami Vasudevananda Saraswati have left for Ayodhya from Prayag to participate in the October 17 rally.

On VHP vice-president Giriraj Kishore's arrest in Lucknow by the state administration, Dwivedi said it is a matter of concern that he has not been allowed to talk to the media.

The VHP spokesman asserted that VHP activists will take part in the rally in large numbers come what may.